JP4068180B2 - Automatic manufacturing method and manufacturing machine for puzzle lock type compression ring - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a machine for automatically producing a compression ring having a mechanical connection, preferably a puzzle-lock type mechanical connection.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Shrinkable compression rings are known in the art and were mostly made by cutting the rings from tubular stocks of various materials. These rings were compressed or shrunk by various means such as mechanical means, magnetic means, hydraulic means and the like.
[0003]
  The use of such compression rings has recently become more important due to the availability of compression rings made of so-called puzzle-lock clamps or strip plate materials. That is, the free end mechanical connection disclosed in the applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,001,816 and 5,185,908, which allows the use of flat strip material for the manufacture of such compression rings, is a puzzle. Compression rings that resemble locks are becoming increasingly important. However, these so-called puzzle-locked compression rings can be automatically mass-produced to satisfy markets such as the automotive industry.Manufacturing method and manufacturingIt is necessary to provide a machine.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The main object of the invention is therefore to produce a compression ring completely automatically from a flat strip material with a mechanical connection.Method andIs to provide a machine. To succeed successfully, such asMethod andThe machine must be able to ensure reliable high-speed mass production to provide such compression rings in large quantities at a reasonable price. Furthermore, such a machine must be able to be easily reinstalled to produce compression rings of various diameter sizes.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The above object is achieved by the manufacturing method according to claim 1 and the manufacturing machine according to claim 13.
[0006]
  In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the feed station continuously feeds a flat strip from the reel to the stamping station, where each blank requires two consecutive cuts, which are then the opposite of the blanks. One end of a blank having a mechanical connection, preferably a puzzle lock-shaped mechanical connection, is punched out so as to form a complementary puzzle-lock shaped cut at the end. There, a blank is sent to the deformation station, where a flat blank is precisely moved across the feed direction to the bending machine. Bending machineCore memberThree laterally or axiallySequentialA flat blank is deformed around the core member, and the bending machine has a number of sliding members mechanically driven by cams. In the first position, the flat blank has a free end of the blank that is precisely pre-deformed into the shape necessary to be able to close the mechanical connection of the free end portion of the blank in the second position. Preliminarily deformed into a shape close to the shape of the completed compression ring. The locking action of the mechanical connection so that the closed compression ring, which now has its predetermined diameter dimension, is then swept in a third position and does not reopen inadvertently during transport and / or subsequent use And improve retention ability. When the various stages of operation are complete, the completed compression ring is then released. In the stamping station, it is preferable to make a cut similar to a puzzle lock when the stamping die cuts adjacent strip sections.
[0007]
  However, in the preferred embodiment, the facing male and female ends resulting from the stamping operation are partially re-entered after the initial complete separation to allow continuous feeding of two or more successive blanks. Each of the successive blanks requires two notches spaced longitudinally depending on the compression ring size. Furthermore, the continuous feed rate from the reel to the stamping station and the intermittent feed rate from the stamping station to the bending or deformation station are of the same length within the operating cycle given continuous and intermittent feed. The slack between the reel and the stamping station is preferably related to each other so that the strip material is adjusted to feed properly. Furthermore, the machine has a conventional structure with, for example, pressure rollers, which are offset and arranged in two rows so as to remove any twists, kinks or bends due to reeling operations from the strip before the strip reaches the stamping station. It is preferable to have a distortion removing device. A conventional lubrication device just in front of the stamping die ensures sufficient lubrication on both sides of the strip required by the station die before the strip reaches the stamping station.
[0008]
  The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention feeds a flat strip material from a reel to a stamping station, where a puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection is stamped, preferably previously separated from each other. Partly rejoins the part and feeds the partly rejoined flat blank to the bending or deformation station, where the preceding blank is completely separated again from the subsequent blank. The blank thus separated is moved in a direction transverse to the feeding station to the bending station or the deformation station, and a compression ring with a mechanical connection is arranged laterally one behind the other in several stages. It consists of a stage that is transformed and completed in a state.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
  Throughout the various figures, like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts, and in particular in FIGS. 1a and 1b, reference numeral 10 generally designates a feed station for continuous feeding of strips. As shown, this feed station 10 has a reel 11 around which strip material is wound. The reel 11 is rotated by a drive mechanism 12 having a drive roller 13. The strain relief unit 14 has an upper pressure roller 15 and a lower pressure roller 15 ′ that are preferably arranged so as to be shifted from each other, and these pressure rollers are formed in a belt-like shape that is generated while winding a belt-like plate around the reel 11. The board is designed to remove twists, kinks or bends. Following the strain relief unit 14, there is a feed unit 16 that continuously feeds the belt-like plate 111. This feed unit has an upper feed roller 17 and a lower feed roller 17 'having a conventional structure. A control unit 18 of conventional construction controls the operation of the various parts of the machine. The speed of the roller member 13 is controlled by a lever arm 19 having a driven member 19 'resting on the belt-like plate 111, and this lever arm 19 is connected to a potentiometer so as to control the speed of the roller member 13 via a line 18a. ing. A sag control unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, is shown schematically in the figure, but this control unit 20 is the maximum and minimum sag 111 of the strip required by the use of continuous feed at the feed station 10. ″ And 111 ′ are controlled. This is in contrast to the intermittent feeding of the strips required for the stamping operation at the stamping station 40 so that the puzzle lock can be stamped while the strips are stopped. Can be of any conventional construction, for example, having two upright members 22a and 22b interconnected at the top and fixed at the bottom 23. A limit switch 24 is connected to the top of the upright member 22b and the switch The mechanism is actuated by a downwardly extending probe member 25 which is slack. When 11 'reaches its predetermined minimum sag, it engages with the sag and activates the switch of the switch mechanism 24 to send the information to the control unit 18 via the lead 24a and accelerate the continuous feed. Also, a predetermined maximum sag is sensed by a metal plate member 26 which is insulated by a limit switch, for example with respect to grounding, and adjustably mounted in a predetermined position, preferably upright members 22a and 22b. In doing so, the lead wires 27a and 27b are mounted on the upright members 22a and 22b, since the strip 111 is typically electrically grounded by conventional means, so that the slack 111 "exceeds the intended maximum slack. The sagging grounds the previously isolated plate member 26 with respect to ground, which causes the plate member 26 to connect to the connector 28 and the lead. To the control unit via line 28aEarthAnd slow down the continuous feed. In this way, the information sent to the control unit 18 via the lines 24a and 28a is sent to the feed stations 10, 11, 12, 13, by slowly changing its feed rate to keep the slack between predetermined limits. Used to control 15 and 16 speeds. Of course, any other known arrangement can be used to perform the 25, 24, 24a and 26, 28, 28a limiting functions. The intermittent feeding unit generally indicated by reference numeral 30 gives intermittent feeding of the belt-like plate 111 to the stamping unit generally indicated by reference numeral 40 through an oil supply device generally indicated by reference numeral 35. The oil supply device 35 lubricates the upper and lower surfaces of the strip plate from the reservoir 36 via the line 37 and branch lines 38 and 39 required by the stamping die. The oil filler 35 is positioned as close as possible to the stamping unit 40. The stamping unit 40 includes a ram member 41 and a fixed base member 42 that fixes and supports an upright columnar guide member 43, and the ram member 41 is integrally supported with the ram member 41 around the columnar guide member 43. The member 44 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate. The stamping die (not shown) is precisely in a two-part housing 45 containing a stamping die in order to obtain a mechanical connection, preferably a puzzle-lock type mechanical connection. . The stamping die consists of four parts, namely two lower matrix members and two upper punching members that are acted on in a conventional manner by the ram member 41. The lower matrix member at the rear as viewed in the flow direction of the belt-like plate is not directly supported by the fixed base member 42 but is supported by a strong spring, and the preceding lower matrix member is directly fixed by the fixed base member 42. And the preceding upper punching die member is also spring supported. The reason for this spring support, to be precise, requires partial reconnection of the continuous strips to further transfer the stamped strip material from the stamping station to the deformation station, generally designated 50. This will be described later in connection with the stamping operation.
[0010]
  The bending or deformation station 50 has three axial positions in the direction transverse to the feed direction of the strip from the stamping station 40 to the deformation station 50. Preferably, the blank with the mechanical connection of the male and female puzzle lock collars at the front and rear end portions, respectively, is provided with lower sliding members 52 and 53 that are vertically reciprocable and slightly downwardly inclined lateral directions. By side sliding members 60 and 61 adapted to reciprocate in the vertical direction and by an upper sliding member 70 capable of reciprocating verticallyCore memberDeformed around 51. Each sliding member 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 is axially connected to each other by a number of constant sliding members as required, depending on the number of axial positions of the deformation machine and its deformation surface. Consists of arranged sections. The lower sliding member 52 is guided in the guide member 54, and the lower sliding member 53 is guided in the guide member 55. At this time, the guide members are provided on both sides of the respective sliding members 52 and 53. For convenience, only one is shown in some drawings. The sliding members 52 and 53 are reciprocated by connecting rods 56 and 57 (FIG. 1 (b)) connected to a cam follower driven by an appropriate cam surface of the cam member, and all the cam followers are mechanical and mechanical. It is driven in synchronization with Similarly, the sliding members 60 and 61 are actuated by rotating members 64 and 65. The lower ends of the rotating members are connected to the sliding members 60 and 61 by connecting rods 64a and 65a, and the upper ends of the sliding members 60 and 61 are machined. Cam followers are provided which follow the cam surfaces of the cams 66 and 67 which are driven in an automatic manner. The action members 64 and 65 are rotatable around pivoting points 64b and 65b. The reciprocating motion of the upper sliding member 70 is acted by the action member 72, and this action member 72 is operatively connected to a mechanically driven cam (not shown) by a cam follower.
[0011]
  The mechanical connection of the compression ring may be of a known type, for example, having the puzzle lock shape described in Applicants' U.S. Patents 5,001,816 and 5,185,908, but filed April 17, 1996, "Puzzle Lock". The improved puzzle lock shape, which is more fully disclosed in the applicant's co-pending provisional application entitled "Improvement of the Shape Compression Ring", is preferred. The male part, generally indicated by reference numeral 400 (FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C and FIG. 6D) of such a mechanical puzzle lock type connecting blank, is an enlarged head. It has a tongue-like portion 401 ending at 402 (FIG. 8) and is provided with side projections 403 and 404. The female portion of such a mechanical puzzle-lock joint, generally indicated by reference numeral 420 (FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D) is male. It has a complementary shape to the portion 400. A substantially right angle is preferred to provide abutment surfaces 431, 432, 433, 434, 435 and 436 that extend across various corners, whereas side abutment surfaces 437 in the region of the enlarged head 402 and 438 transitions into the abutting end surface 439 extending laterally through the rounded abutting surfaces 440 and 441. This greatly improves the holding capacity of the mechanical connection as explained more fully in the above-mentioned co-pending application. Furthermore, the areas 410, 411 and 412 shown in dotted lines are subjected to a swaging action which displaces material in the area of the joint of the interengaging abutment surfaces 432, 434 and 439 extending laterally, so that e.g. hoses, axle boots. Or the clamping action of the compression ring mechanical connection during transport and / or its use for tightening or nipples, axle stubs etc. is improved.
[0012]
  The remaining details of the machine are described in relation to the operation of the machine. One cycle of such an operation involves intermittent feeding of the strip material to and from the stamping station 40, in which the punching of the mechanical connection with the preferred puzzle lock shape stops the intermittent feed. Sliding members 50, 51, 52, 53, which are carried out during the operation and are cut off and partly rejoined between adjacent male and female parts of a mechanical puzzle-lock type joint, Includes 60, 62 and 70 periodic motions. However, it should be further noted that the production of a compression ring on a bending or deformation machine has only a stage, i.e.Core memberIt requires a large number of operating cycles with only 50 axial positions. Sliding members are indicated in the schematic representation of FIG. 1b by reference numerals 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70, each such sliding member being rigidly interconnected in a number of axial arrangements. Which have a corresponding number of different deformation surfacesCore memberThis corresponds to the number of positions along the axial direction of 51. Corresponds to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions to facilitate understanding of the operation of the machineCore memberAnd portions of the sliding member are represented by corresponding reference numerals 100, 200 and 300 series in FIGS.
[0013]
                                  Action
  The operation of the machine according to the present invention is as follows.
  The strip plate material 111 is continuously fed from the feed station 10 by feeding the strip plate from the reel 11 which is acted on by the drive mechanism 12 and the roller member 13 at a continuous speed controlled by the control unit 18. In this case, the continuous speed is then determined by the position of the lever arm 19 resting on the strip plate material 111 by the driven member 19 'and connected to the potentiometer. The electronic circuitry of the control unit 18 is of a conventional type that is well known to those skilled in the art and does not form part of the present invention and will not be described in detail here. The strip material 111 continuously fed from the reel 11 is sent to the strain removing unit 14 where the strip material fed to the continuous feed unit 16 is completely flat except for twisting, kinking or bending. Secure. When the sag control unit 20 senses the maximum sag 111 ″ by the plate member 26 and senses the minimum sag 111 ′ by the plate member 25, when the minimum sag or maximum sag of the strip plate material exceeds a predetermined limit, 28a is sent back up to the control unit 18. This slack control is the same as the length of the strip material fed per cycle, so that the speed of the continuous feed unit 16 is intermittent. This is necessary in order to correlate to the speed of 30. This is the speed of the feed rollers 17 and 17 'which continuously operate the speed of the feed rollers 31 and 32 controlled by the control unit 18 via the lead wire 33. It means that it has to be larger and compensate for the stoppage during the stamping operation. The refueling device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 35, which must be positioned closely, stamps the lubricating oil onto the top and bottom of the strip material that is intermittently fed via line 37 and branch lines 38 and 39. It has a reservoir tank 36 for sending only the amount required by the die.
[0014]
  The stamping unit 40 has a reciprocating ram member 41 that reciprocates on an upright columnar guide member 43 with its short member 44, as is common with such stamping units. Further, the stamping unit 40 has a fixed base member 42 supported by an upright guide member 43. The two-part housing 45 fixedly supported on the base member 42 preferably has a stamping die (not shown) for realizing a cut for a mechanical connection in the form of a puzzle lock. Each notch in the stamping action of such a mechanical connection gives a female puzzle lock shape to the rear piece of the strip material and a male puzzle lock shape to the leading piece of the strip material. The blanks cut at the stamping station can be moved from the stamping station 40 to the bending or deformation station 50 by the intermittently actuable feed unit 30 so that it is cut by the stamping action during a given operating cycle. It is necessary to reconnect two subsequent strips of strip material again. For this reason, the stamping die is composed of two lower matrix members (not shown) and two upper punching die members (not shown) that cooperate with the lower matrix members, respectively. The lower rear matrix member, as viewed in the feed direction, is spring supported by one or more strong springs, but the preceding pair of leading upper punch die members are also spring supported. The rear pair of upper punching die members are directly operatively connected to the ram member, while the lower pair of lower die members are directly supported by the base member. In this way, the partially reconnected portion of the cut puzzle lock shape obtained by cutting during the stop in one stop cycle is partially reconnected again as schematically shown in FIG. . The partial press operation of the puzzle lock is shown in stage 2 of FIG. 17, and this press operation is effected by a strong spring action that supports the rear pair of lower matrix members. Furthermore, FIG. 17 shows the re-separation at stage 4 of the preceding blank from the rear blank partially reconnected at stage 2 at stage 4. To that end, a plunger or pin that is actuated by a spring-loaded plunger or pin member at the deforming station first squeezes the next rear blank while the intermittent feed stops, and then acts on the next blank puzzle lock female shape. Complete re-separation is achieved by the member, at which time the subsequent blank is separated and held by a spring loaded plunger or pin member, and finally the separated preceding blank now represented by reference numeral 111a is As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6A, it is moved across the feeding direction by finger-like members 80a, 80b, 81c. 1 (a), FIG. 1 (b), FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are side views of the core member 51 as viewed in the axial direction. 6 (B), FIG. 6 (C), FIG. 6 (D) and FIG. 7 are schematic plan views, in which the positions of the various components are always shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 (A) and FIG. , Corresponding to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6B, corresponding to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6C, and corresponding to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6D. The blank is represented by reference numerals 111a, 111b and 111c in the first, second and third positions of the machine, whereas the discharged blank is represented by reference numeral 111d. The feed path at the point of complete re-separation in the deformation machine has a slight inclination that raises the following blank to the level of the preceding blank during the next feed cycle without being interrupted by hitting the abutment. Has a road. Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of FIG. 17 are schematic side views of FIG. 17, while step 5 is a schematic plan view.
[0015]
  The lateral displacement of the blank shown in step 5 in FIG. 17 is realized by three reciprocable fingers 80 a, 80 b and 80 c that displace the separated blank to the first position on the core member 51. In the first position, the compression ring is finally placed so that the end of the blank for the final formation of the compression ring exactly matches the circular collar required to allow the puzzle-locked mechanical connection to be closed. A blank for forming is preliminarily deformed. As seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 10,Core member51 first sections 151 are somewhat oval with apple-shaped rings. After complete separation of the previously partially rejoined blank by finger members 80a, 80b and 80c and after lateral displacement of the separated blank 111a, the lower sliding members 52 and 53 are moved upwards almost simultaneously. Thus, sections 152 and 153 cause the blanks to deform with their belt-like plate engaging deformation surfaces 158 and 159 through the passage from zero through 1, 2, 3, 4 in FIG. 18 to position 5 in FIG. Then, the sliding members 60 and 61 having the sections 160 and 161 are engaged with the strip-shaped plate portion extending substantially linearly with the strip-shaped plate engaging deformation surfaces 168 and 169 so that the strip is positioned at the position 1 ′, 2 ', 3', 4 'and 5' are deformed to reach position 6 'where the strip 170 is moved by its strip engaging surface 173 when the section 170 of the upper sliding member 70 moves downward. Engage and deform the end including the puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection to reach position 6 ″. When all the sliding members are retracted, the pre-deformed blanks are the result of the elasticity of the material. And as a result of being assisted by L-shaped finger members 190a and 190b (FIG. 10) supported by springs 192a and 192b in the recesses 191a and 191b of the core section 151, they snap back to position 6 ″. . The shorter legs 194a and 194b of the finger-like members 190a and 190b determine the maximum outward protrusion of these finger-like members. If so desired, the maximum protrusions of these finger-like members 190a and 190b can be adjusted as described below in connection with FIG.
  FIG. 2 shows the position of the sliding member in the retracted position during the start of the cycle. When the blank cycle and deformation is completed at its first position where the end 6 "'occupies the springback position shown in FIG. 18, the pre-deformed blank isCore member51 by finger-like members 81a, 81b, 81c and 81d reciprocating from its first position on 51Core memberDisplace to the second axial position on 51. At that position, the blank 111b is deformed into its circular ring and the puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection is closed. FIG. 11 shows the position of the sections 252, 253, 260, 261 and 270 of the sliding members 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 in the extended position. The inward movement of the sliding member 60 to its extended position is slid in order to obtain the overlap necessary to allow the mechanical puzzle-locked ring closure to be closed by the section 270 of the upper sliding member 70. It slightly precedes the movement of the member 61. In order for the female puzzle lock end portion to be above the male puzzle lock end portion, the finger-like member 290 initially protrudes from its recess 291 so that the section 261 of the sliding member 62 extends inwardly thereof. When reaching the position, the finger-like member 290 is pushed inward against the force of the spring 292. The upper sliding member 270 closes the puzzle lock during its downward movement with its deformation insert 274 to complete the deformation and closure of the compression ring. When the sliding members 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 are retracted again during the completion of the second cycle of operation, the deformed and closed compression ring is moved from its second position to the third of the compression ring 111. Moved into position by finger-like members 82a, 82b, 82c and 82d. This displacement of the deformed and closed compression ring from position 2 to position 3 at the same time, as will be described in detail later, is a compression ring 111d previously held in position 3 after being swept in position 3 Release.
[0016]
  The closed ring 111c is swept up by small tooth protrusions on the insert member 374 of the section 370 of the upper sliding member 70 and by small tooth protrusions 378 on the insert member 377 inserted in the core section 351. . These teeth are located in the region of the abutting edges 411, 412 and 439 extending laterally of the mechanical puzzle-lock type connecting blank (FIG. 8) in the region where the swaging action is indicated by the dotted lines 411, 412 and 410. Positioned to happen. This upsetting action significantly improves the holding capacity of the compression ring, as described in Applicants' co-pending application.
[0017]
  Figure 16 shows that the blanking is done so that the swaging action is always performed at the correct position of the mechanical puzzle lock connection.Core memberA device, generally designated by the reference numeral 500, is shown for holding it in its predetermined position on 51. The device 500 is disposed in the space between the lower sliding members 52 and 53 and their guiding portions, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view cut in the axial direction. Finally, two pressure members 501 and 502 extending upwardly toward the bottom surface of the blank forming the compression ring are spring loaded by springs 503 and 504, which are housed in recesses in the housing block 507. And surrounds the plunger members 505 and 506. Guide members 508 and 509 guide the pressure members 501 and 502 and the related parts to move upward and downward. The abutment member 510 engages the lower ends of the plunger members 505 and 506 and by pressure members 501 and 502 on the bottom of the blank that forms a compression ring beyond the force normally exerted by the springs 503 and 504. Further increase the pressure exerted. The abutment member 510 is coupled by a coupling member 511 to any device that causes upward and downward movement of the abutment member 510. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting member 511 is connected to the piston rod of a pneumatic piston unit (not shown), which is moved upward to the position shown in FIG. 16 during the deformation operation in a given cycle. And the blank forming the compression ring in its place is acted upon to hold it very firmly during such deformation operations. During the portion of each cycle in which the clamp ring is displaced by finger-like members 81a-81d and 82a-82b, the abutment member 510 is moved downward to reduce the pressure exerted by the pressure members 501 and 502 and thereby circumferentially. Allows axial displacement of the compression ring without movement. However, the springs 503 and 504 areCore memberIt is dimensioned to hold the compression ring in place on 51 and to allow axial movement of the compression ring necessary for each operation.
[0018]
  In one exemplary non-limiting example of a machine of the present invention used to make a compression ring having an inner diameter of 79.6 mm and a strip thickness of 1.4 mm, the deformation surface of the sliding member that engages the compression ring blank. Is as follows. The core section 151 has a length of 92 mm and a height of 70 mm. The surfaces 158 and 159 of the sections 152 and 153 of the lower sliding members 52 and 53 have a radius of curvature of 36.4 mm. Surfaces 168 and 169 of sections 160 and 161 of sliding members 60 and 61 have a radius of curvature of 36.4 mm. The curvature radii of the curved surfaces of the surface 173 are each 36.4 mm, but the corresponding surface on the core section 151 has a radius of curvature of 35 mm.
[0019]
  Core memberThe diameter dimension of 51 core sections 251 is 79.4 mm, the curvatures 268 and 269 of the sections 260 and 261 of the sliding members 60 and 61 have a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm, and in the section 270 of the upper sliding member 70 The insert member 274 has a surface 273 having a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm.
  Core memberSection 351 of 51 (FIG. 14) again has a diameter dimension of 79.4 mm, while surfaces 358 and 359 of sections 352 and 353 of sliding members 52 and 53 again have a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm. Surfaces 368 and 369 of sections 360 and 361 of sliding members 60 and 61 also have a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm, but on insert member 374 in section 370 of sliding member 70, more fully shown in FIG. The small dents 376 have a height of 0.35 mm and are at an angle of 60 ° as shown in FIG. These tooth-like members 376 are spaced by a total of 10.6 ° in the circumferential direction. The small tooth projections 378 on the insert member 377 have a similar collar as the tooth projections 376, ie, have a height of 0.35 mm and an angle of 60 ° circumferentially spaced 10.6 °.
[0020]
  Pre-deforming the compression ring at position 1 to facilitate the closure of the mechanical connection requires various handling with a small radius compression ring. Because, in that case, the taper effect due to the small radius of curvature of the male and female parts of the puzzle-locked connection part is of greater importance making it difficult to close the connection part with the smaller opening along the inner peripheral surface of the strip plate part. Because it occupies sex. In that case, the end section including the puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection at position 1 is preformed to be flat, the flat puzzle-lock shape is closed at position 2 and the closed compression ring is then closed to the desired circular ring. It is desirable to deform it. This can be, for example, at another stage so that complete manufacturing requires four cycles of operation with four positions. However, in that case, good results were obtained by softening the range of material by softening the range of the male and female puzzle lock shapes at the end of the compression ring blank to about 400 ° C. By softening the material in this way, the closing of the puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection is facilitated by the softened material, however, the softened material is again work hardened by the actual closing of the mechanical connection. Therefore, only the three-stage operation at the three positions described above is sufficient.
[0021]
  The machine of the present invention is very effective. This is because compression rings of various diameters can be produced with the same equipment by simply exchanging the sections of the various sliding members. In addition, the speed at which the machine can be operated is high, enabling rapid production of 55 compression rings per minute.
  All the sliding members are mechanically actuated by mechanically driven cams, and the sliding members can be mounted by roller bearings to ensure a sliding motion without friction by reciprocating motion during the operation cycle. . Of the sliding members 52, 53, 60, 61 andCore memberThe 50 different sections include, for example, fingers as shown by the partial recesses and circular openings in the core section 150 of FIG. 10 and the appropriately shaped end faces of the sliding members 52, 53 and 60, 61. Surfaces are provided to allow axial extension of the shaped members 81a-81d and 82a-82d. If upsetting is not required or desired, the machine described above can use only two axial positions instead of three axial positions. The sliding member can also be acted on by means other than mechanical cam action. However, in order to best achieve the various movements of the sliding members and their harmonized functions, for example, a cam member driven from a single electric motor via a sprocket and chain drive and its synchronized operation should be appropriately designed. Good.
[0022]
  While only one embodiment has been shown and described in accordance with the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto and many variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art are possible and are therefore presented here. It is not intended to be limited to the details described, but is intended to cover all changes and modifications as enclosed by the claims.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained above, according to the present invention, a method and a machine for producing a compression ring completely automatically from a flat strip material having a mechanical connection are obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are schematic views of an embodiment of a machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of various portions of a bending or deformation station with all side members in a retracted position.
FIG. 3 is a front view similar to FIG. 2 in which the downward sliding member is in a position extended above them.
FIG. 4 is a front view similar to FIG. 3, with the side sliding members in their extended positions.
FIG. 5 is a front view similar to FIG. 4 in a position where the upper sliding member is extended downward.
6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.
  FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.
  (C) is the cross-sectional view cut | disconnected along line 3-3 of FIG.
  (D) is the cross-sectional view cut | disconnected along line 3-3 of FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mechanical connection having a collar resembling a puzzle lock.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic axial front view showing a deformed surface of a sliding member at position 1 of a deformation ring and a deformation station of a core-shaped member and a sliding member.
FIG. 11 is a schematic axial front view of a deformation surface of a sliding member at a position 2 of a core-shaped member, a sliding member, and a bending or deformation machine.
12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing a finger-shaped member in a section of a core-shaped member at position 2. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a schematic partial view showing the surfaces of the core member and the insert member of the upper vertical sliding member at position 2 of the core member and the upper sliding member.
FIG. 14 is a schematic axial front view of the core member and the sliding member at position 3 of the machine and the deformation surface of the sliding member.
FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an insert member for the core section and the upper vertical sliding member, with the deforming protrusion performing the swaging action.
FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an apparatus for holding the belt-like plate in the same position with respect to the deformed core member.
FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the station operation of the strip plate material and partial reconnection of the cut portion.
FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory diagram of various deformation stages of the deformation machine of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged view showing the shape of the swaging teeth of the insert for the division of the upper sliding member at position 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
    10,11 Strip material supply station
    12, 13 Continuous feed means
    18, 18a, 24a, 28a Control means
    30 Intermittent feeding means
    40 stamping station
    45 Stamping die punching means
    50 Deformation station
    51 Core member
    52, 53, 60, 61, 70 Sliding member
    56, 57, 66, 67, 72 Action means of sliding member
    58, 59, 68, 69, 73 Strip plate engagement end face
    80a, 80b, 80c First feeding means
    81a, 81b, 81c, 81d Second feeding means
  111d compression ring
  190a, 190b Finger projection
  400, 420 Mechanical connection means
  410, 411, 412 predetermined area

Claims (30)

A method of automatically producing a compression ring from a flat blank (111) strip material using a production machine , comprising:
A core member (51) having several outer surfaces spaced apart in the axial direction is provided in the deformation station (50) , and in this case, the several outer surfaces of the core member have their positions and numbers described above. Corresponding to the position and number of several successive positions in the axial direction across the longitudinal direction of the blank (111) in the manufacturing machine, the outer surface is used as an inner abutment surface for the blank (111) And
The blank (111) is sequentially sent from one position of the manufacturing machine to the next position, and during each operation cycle, the sliding member (52, 53, 60, 61, 70) is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. Displacement causes deformation around the corresponding one of the outer faces of the core member (51) in a number of operating cycles , whereupon the sliding members are immediately returned to their retracted position and thereby closed. In a method of forming a ring ,
In a first position of the production machine, a flat blank (111) is pre-deformed into a ring shape, thereby producing a pre-deformed blank ,
In a second position, the pre-deformed blank (111) is deformed to its final shape, and mechanical coupling means (400, 420) provided in the free end region of the blank are connected to the sliding members (52, 53, closed by one of 60,61,70),
A method characterized by subjecting the region (410, 411, 412) of the mechanical coupling means (400, 420) to a swaging action in a third position . The method according to claim 1, wherein the compression ring (111d) already in the third position is released by a subsequent displacement of the compression ring (111c) from the second position to the third position . The effect swaging of certain areas of the joint formed by the closed connecting means (400, 420), carried out in the third position by small material displacement in the region of the abutment surface extending transversely of the connecting means, wherein Item 2. The method according to Item 1 . Further, by applying holding pressure on the blank in the region facing said connecting means (400, 420) comprises the step of holding all of the operating cycle in the blank in place relative Shinjo member (51), according to claim The method according to 1 . During operation of the axial feed of the blank (111), a relatively small holding pressure added by Ri during deformation period the sliding member (52,53,60,61,70), is added a relatively high pressure, the method of claim 4. During a given cycle, at least one lower sliding member (52) is first displaced toward the core member (51), and then the at least one lower sliding member (52, 53) is substantially extended. One of the two side sliding members (60, 61) after reaching the position (60, 61) is displaced toward the core member (51), and then the one side sliding member ( 60) before reaching the extended position, the other one of the side sliding members (60, 61) (61) is displaced toward the core member (51), and two side slides The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one upper sliding member (70) is displaced toward the core member (51) after the moving members (60, 61) have reached their extended position. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the one side sliding member (60) has only a short lead beyond the other side sliding member (61) during its movement towards its extended position. Retracted all sliding members (52,53,60,61,70) at about the same time, all of the feed of the blank (111) is performed after the retracted sufficiently sliding member, according to claim 1 Method. Moreover, stamping the mechanical connecting means (400, 420) from a flat strip-shaped plate material by stamping station (40) includes an intermittent feeding that stage a flat strip-shaped plate material to the stamping station, linked in that the intermittent feed stop 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the means can be punched out. Further, a continuous blank is intermittently transferred from the stamping station (40) to the deformation station (50) by partially reconnecting the mechanical connecting means (400, 420) of the continuous strips cut by the stamping action. 10. The method of claim 9 , comprising the step of displacing to. 11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of separating the partially reconnected connecting means (400, 420) when the blank arrives at the deformation station (50) prior to being sent to the first position. Furthermore, the flat supply of the strip-shaped plate material strip plate material (11) from continuously feeding the intermittent feed device (30), and strip-shaped plate material sent by the operating cycle in intermittent and continuous feeding length comprises a substantially intermittent feeding steps relating to each other in the feeding speed of the feed speed of the continuous feed to be the same, method of claim 10. A machine for automatically producing a compression ring from a flat blank (111) ,
A core member (51) having several outer faces corresponding to several successive positions in the axial direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the blank (111) in the deformation station (50) ;
A plurality of sliding members for deforming the blank (111) and (52,53,60,61,70),
Action means for causing the sliding member (52, 53, 60, 61, 70) to act during an operating cycle ;
A feeding means for sequentially feeding the blank (111) from one position on the core member (51) to the next position in the axial direction, whereby the blank is sequentially deformed to its final shape. Machine
Each sliding member (52, 53, 60, 61, 70) has , at its free end, several strip plate engaging end faces corresponding to positions on the core member (51) , and the strip plate The engagement end face is
Having a first end surface corresponding to a first position on the core member (51) for pre-deforming the blank (111) , thereby producing a pre-deformed blank ;
In addition, after the complementary mechanical connecting means (400, 420) provided at the free end of the blank is closed, the core-shaped member (51) for deforming the pre-deformed blank (111) into a substantially final ring shape. Having a second end face corresponding to the second position above ,
Still further, it has a third end face corresponding to a third position on the core member (51) in order to apply a swaging action to the region (410, 411, 412) of the mechanical connecting means (400, 420). Machine to do . 14. A machine according to claim 13, wherein successive positions of the outer surface on the core member (51) have an axial length that substantially matches the width of the blank (111). Wherein the sliding member (52,53,60,61,70) is blank from below, it is operable to deform from above and from the side, according to claim 1 3 machine. The outer surface of the core member (51) in the first position is necessary to pre-deform the free end of the blank (111) so that the mechanical coupling means (400, 420) can be closed in the second position. shape to have a shape to conform machine according to claim 1 3. 17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein the outer surface of the core member (51) in the first position is slightly oval so as to avoid overlapping of the free ends of the blank (111).   The outer surface of the core member (51) in the first position has finger-like projections (190a, 190b) to assist in realizing a pre-deformed egg shape. machine. Said second position by downward movement of one sliding member (270) of said sliding member outer surface approximately circular in and and above Shinjo member (251) in said second position (252,253,260,270) Further deformation at the initial position of the free end of the blank (111) including the mechanical coupling means (400, 420) during the initial deformation in the second position until the mechanical coupling means (400, 420) is closed. Machine according to claim 13, comprising finger-like projection means (291) for the purpose. Two sliding members (52, 53) capable of acting toward the core member (51) in a substantially upward direction are provided, and two moving members that move toward the core member (51) from substantially opposite sides thereof are provided. 14. Another sliding member (60, 61) is provided, and one sliding member (70) is provided so as to be able to act towards the core member (51) in a substantially downward direction. Machine. Further, engagement when make deforming the blank (111) in the allowed and the positional displacement through several positions, from below to keep the blank (111) in the same position on Shinjo member (51) to the blank 14. Machine according to claim 13 , comprising supporting means (503, 504, 510, 511) for supporting. Furthermore, the strip material supply station (10, 11), the stamping station (40) for punching the complementary mechanical connecting means (400, 420) to form the blank (111), and the uninterrupted strip material are Continuous feed means (16) for continuously feeding from a supply station to a location along the path from the stamping station (40), and intermittent operation for feeding a blank from the location to the stamping station (40) 14. Machine according to claim 13, comprising possible feeding means (30). Furthermore, it comprises control means (18, 18a, 24a, 28a) for correlating the speed of the continuous feed means (16) with the speed of the intermittently operable feed means (30), and a reel of strip-shaped plate material (11) is reliably driven (12, 13) at the supply station (10, 11) to feed the strip-shaped plate material from the reel, and the speed of the driven reel is controlled by the control means (18 23. The machine of claim 22, wherein the machine is operable to be adjusted by: The stamping station (40) is configured such that two adjacent blanks are first completely cut and separated from each other , and then after the cutting is completed, the blanks are removed from the stamping station by the intermittently actuable feeding means (50). ) For each end of two adjacent blanks (111) to punch out complementary mechanical coupling means (400,420) so that they can be partially reconnected again in order to be sent to A stamping die (45) having stamping die punching means (41) is provided, in which the partially reconnected blank is moved from the first position on the core member (51) to the second position. 14. A machine according to claim 13, wherein the machine is separated again by separating means prior to lateral movement . The initial complete separation and subsequent partial reconnection is achieved by the spring support means of the punching means (41) for the preceding part of the complementary puzzle lock type connection means (400,420) and the complementary puzzle lock type connection. 25. Machine according to claim 24 , realized by a spring support means of a matrix-like means for the rear part of the means. 14. A machine as claimed in claim 13 , comprising means for releasing the finished compression ring from the third position . Feeding means comprises an operably rod-like member (80, 81, 82) in the axial direction for engaging the blank (111) of claim 13 machine. When the sliding member (52, 53, 60, 61, 70) is substantially retracted at least near the completion of the operating cycle involving the back-and-forth movement of the sliding member, the feeding means is activated and during normal operation, the blank (111) 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein is present in each of several locations and each sliding member engages a respective blank at its engagement surface. Of the sliding members (352, 353, 360, 361, 370) , on the end surface corresponding to the third position on one sliding member (274) and on the outer surface corresponding to the third position on the core member (377) A material displacement tooth (376,378) is provided in a region of the joint formed by the closed mechanical coupling means (400,420) for carrying out a swaging action in a third position according to claim 13 The machine described . Each sliding member (352,353,360,361,370) is secured coupled together to move in unison in by and the operating cycle consists of sections arranged in a number of axially with its end faces in each segment, said Shinjo member ( The machine according to claim 13, wherein 377) consists of a number of axially arranged sections, each section having its own outer surface, and fixedly connected to each other.

Images